Dragon’s Sacrificed Bride : Curse and Redemption

Chapter 2 : The Demon Beast

Time...cannot wait for the rescuer to come when there's a pairs of red eerie eyes lurking around from the darkness appear out of nowhere. He quickly pulled his daughter for safety behind his back. He saw a hazy smoked form with a pair of red eyes stand exactly just a few inch from where he was standing. His heart hammering so fast until he felt breathless. Pride has made him not to be shaken down in fear and  show the enemy his weakness. For the first time in his life...Fear slowly creeping thru in his veins as he saw the devil with his own eyes. He has decided that he will never give his daughter to the demon beast.

" To all lowly humans here...show me your sworn loyalty. Are you going to keep your promise to hand over a daughter born in the dragon as my bride? " The demon beast asking in demand.

“ Before we began our ritual, I would like to ask you a few things if you are allowed the humble people to ask? .” The head chief asked.

“ Who are you wanted to ask me a question? What is it that you want to ask? If I don’t like your question, I will destroy your village at this instant! “ The demon beast answered in anger.

“ My humble apologize, please do not get angry at us? I am the head chief and also the representative of moonlight raven village. Before we agreed to your terms, please hear me out and let us speak our mind. “ The head chief answered.

The head chief was hoping that the demon beast will agreed to his request. He need to make sure that the demon beast will uphold to keep his promises. He is ready to risk his life to negotiate before he refused the demon beast request. He stay still and waited for the demon beast for an answer. After more than a minute later, the demon beast started to spoke..

“ Very well then. But, you can only asked me three questions and no more. So, choose your question wisely, you lowly human. “ The demon beast answered.

“ Yes, of course. Thank you for giving me your consent.” The head chief replied with a relief on his face.

He only got three chance to asked the question. He cannot simply lose this opportunity since the demon beast is willing to listen. He decided to ask what is the most important things first comes to his mind.

“ The first question is if I had agreed to comply to your request, would you keep your words and promise to not attacking my village and protected all of us from any danger that has the same species like you? I didn’t mean to disrespect you but you are aware that you are not the only living creature that can threathen us. ‘ The head chief asked carefully. He didn’t want to anger the demon beast.

“ Yes…I am the god of mystical creature in the mountain, am swear that i will not attacked your village. I will become the shield and protecting your village as long as I live. If there’s an enemy or any other creatures tried to invade or attacked your village, I will come and destroy the enemy to the dust. As in return for your loyalty to me, I will be the guardian of your village. You have my words to keep for I am a mystical creature who keeps his promise. “ The demon beast answered sealed with his promised.

The head chief and the rest of the elder was shocked to hear the demon beast answer. They didn’t expected the demon beast itself will offer to become the guardian who protected the moonlight raven village. This is a blessed opportunity for them. Still, the head chief is not convince yet. He did not only want his protection, he wanted the demon beast to change his mind asking for a sacrifice bride in return.

“ What is your next question? “ The demon beast asked patiently.

“ The second question. Is there any more condition you required to sealed a deal with us beside the sacrifice bride given to you? “ The head chief asked curiously.

“ To maintain the peace on this land, your next kin's bloodline must do the same ritual to prepare a sacrifice bride for every daughter born in the dragon year at the age of sixteen and given to me.” The demon beast answered.

“ What! This is absurd. You are not only wanted to take my daughter but my next kin's bloodline too? “ The head chief asked in surprise.

“ In order for me to protect your village, there’s a price to pay. This is only a small sacrifice in exchange for your freedom and peace. “ The demon beast answered.

“ But.. what if my next kin's bloodline cannot produce a daughter on the dragon year and the years so on. Will you destroyed our village by then? “ The head chief asked in a worried voice.

“ Once you’ve sealed a pact with your own blood with me, we are bound to be connected. I will know if any of your kin's bloodline will bear a daughter in the dragon year.” The demon beast answered.

“ I don’t understand why must a daughter born in a dragon year only you taken? What if a daughter that not born in the dragon year? Will you took them too? “ The head chief asked as curiosity overtake him.

“ No. I will not took them. Only those who borne in a dragon year will have a blood connection with me. I will not touch any daughter that not born on a that year. Are you satisfied with the answer now? You seem to be asking a lot more question than I’ve expected. “ The demon beast replied and get started to felt annoyed.

“ Yes, my apologize again. One last question, What if i don’t agreed on your condition to sacrifice my daughter or my next kin's bloodline as your bride. I don’t mean to angered you but will you accepted anything in exchange beside that? “ The head chief daringly asked.

“ You foolish lowly human! Are you trying to lead me in circle with your foolish tricky question! “ The demon beast said in anger.

The head chief was trying to bet on his luck to negotiate with the demon beast but it turned out to be a big mistake. Although, he is willingly ready to sworn his royalty but still he cannot give up his daughter or his kin's bloodline to the demon beast. Suddenly, the wind becoming strong and almost blinded them with the sand attack. The head chief thought he saw something moving from behind the demon beast and the things is coming straight toward him. Before he could protected himself, to his surprise suddenly Leah jumped out from behind him and standing right in front of the demon beast.

“ No! Stop it! Stop it! Please don’t hurt my father! “ Leah shouted with a scare looks on her beautiful stricken face. The demon beast suddenly stop in his track then and there. Leah was afraid the demon beast will harm her father. She don’t care if the demon beast hurting her. She will do anything in her power to protect her father. She knew in the demon beast eyes she is just a tiny small girl but she is  willing to risk her life just to keep her father safe.

“ Leah! What are you doing? This is dangerous! Go stand behind my back! “ The head chief said in flustered.

The head chief still in shocked but he is more afraid that the demon beast will harm her daughter. He quickly pulled his daughter hand to hide behind his back but she’s so stubborn and stop him.

“ No father. Let me speak to the demon beast. I will be fine. All he wanted is me. He will not harm me. So, don’t you worried. “ Leah said with a smile and pressed his hand to convince her father.

Leah has a sixth sense and she knew what her father was trying to do. She didn’t know where her courage comes from but there she is. Her knees went weak when she saw a pair of red eyes were looking deeply into her soul. She doesn’t want the demon beast to see fear in her eyes, she close her eyes and took a deep breath. Then when she is ready to counter the demon beast, she opened her eyes and said.

“ I am the one you are seeking for… your sacrifice bride. But before we pledge our loyalty and took me. Please…Can you just please give me a moment to bid a farewell to my father? “ Leah asked bravely.

“ Are you fooling me with your joke right now young lady? “ The demon beast asked with a mocking voice.

“ Of course not… But please, I’m begging you. This might be the last chance for me to bid him farewell for I know that I might never see him forever again. At least.. can you at least please grant me this last small wish of mine? “ Leah asked desperately.

Leah look at the demon beast with the hope that she can persuade him even a little while. She need a little more time to convince her father from changing his mind. She knew this demon beast is not some creature can be negotiate with. She heard the elderly voice asking her father in confusion. But she just ignored them and look straight into the demon beast eyes without batting her eyes. Her whole body was shaking but she held it so well with a chin up in the air like a regal princess waiting for the answer. She felt like almost an eternity just to get the answer. She didn’t realize that she is holding her breath until he answered her.  

“ Very well…Since this is the last moment you can see your father. I’ll grant you this last wish but not for too long as I have a very little patient to wait. ” The demon beast replied.

“ Yes! Yes! I promised you it won’t take too long. I promise! Thank you! Thank you so much! “ Leah replied in relief.

She quickly turn around and pulled his father hands along to walks along with her to a not far distance to avoid their talk be heard by the demon beast. The head chief was still in confused. He didn’t know what’s is going on her daughter mind right now.

“ Leah, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind! Don’t you ever do that again! You could have get killed instantly in that creature hands! Why did you stop me! I am trying to prevent that creature from taking you away! Didn’t you hear what that demon beast asked from me? “ The chief said in flustered anger.

“ Father, please come down yourself and don’t let your anger overtook your emotion. I apologize for my action earlier on but I can’t let the demon beast to harm you. I know what you are thinking and trying to do but you can’t do that. Think about the villagers, the elderly here and our family. This is not what you has agreed with the elderly before we come here. Look at how confuse they are right now. Will you willing to sacrifice the whole village for your only daughter? “ Leah said desperately.

It is not that she is so happy to die at this young age but she need to make her father think which is the right things to do and not be blinded by a fatherly devotion. She has made her decision the moment she knew the only way out from this misery is her sacrifice. Its scared her but if this is the god will then she will accepted her fate.

“ You’ve heard what the creature is asking for? That creature is not only wanted to take you away but our next kin's too. Do you think I will let that creature to get what he wanted? “ The head chief said while stroking his hair away in frustrated.

“ Father, I know this is painful for you to let me go. And yes I’ve heard what that creature is asking for. But I think maybe I can persuade him to change his mind not to make a pact with our bloodline as a sacrifice bride.” Leah said with a strong believe that she can do.

“ Leah… This is not something that you can handle especially with a creature like him. Do you think he will listen to you? No… And we both don’t know whether that creature will let you be alive or death! How do you think you can convince a creature without a human emotion like us ? The head chief said in depressed.

“ I understand your point of view father. But you have mistaken something, why do you think that creature want me as a bride instead of sacrificial? Maybe he wanted to keep me alive as his puppet. When I look at that creature I can see his loneliness. You know very well that I has a special gift with an animal right? I wanted you to trust me father, I hope you can leave this matter in my hand. “ Leah said while diverted her eyes to look at the demon beast then look back at her father.

“ Leah.. I understand what you thinking but this creature is not just an ordinary animal but a mystical creature. He is a beast! Do you know how many creatures out there has been killing and eaten our people alive since your ancestor time? We are nothing but only a food for them. Thanks to your ancestor we manage to stay alive and has been protected with the great wall that they build. “ The head chief explained.

“ But now is different, I guess something must has invoked his anger and attacked our village. Otherwise, why wait until now only to destroy our village? You can see half of our village has been destroyed and many of our people died. That is why I want this let it began and end with me. Let me be the one and only sacrifice bride in our bloodline history. I’ve accepted my fate and as long as our village is in peace then I am already glad and happy. Father, you as the head chief pf moonlight raven village will make the best decision. All the villagers life and hope is in your hands now. Promise me that you will choose our people instead of me father. Promise me? Leah asked with the hope that her father will not making a foolish decision.

When he heard his daughter words, it’s comes like an ice stuck to his heart. He knew that in order to save his village, something must be sacrifice to seek for peace. As the head of the chief village, he has no choice but to seal a deal with the demon beast. In order to protect his own people, he was forced to made a pacts and sacrifice his own beloved daughter life. In that instant he was feeling miserably hopeless, he's asking God for forgiveness for his own ineptability to protect his own daughter and his future blood lineage. He hope that they will forgive him for the sin he is about going to commit for the rest of his lineage generation...for choosing this path. He heard the elderly voice of concern from behind.

“ Head Chief, we heard your conversation with you daughter. We know this must be hard for you to accept the facts that your daughter will be taken away by the demon beast. I also a father and grandfather to my family. I know it is hard to see someone you love is forever gone. But, as an elderly of this village, we cannot let you making the wrong decision that can harm the whole village. Your responsibility is much more heavy and many life is in your hand right now. So, choose wisely as not to anger more the demon beast than it already has. We all has tasted the wrath of the demon beast before. You know what is the impact has left to all of us. Are you willing to taste the demon beast wrath once again? “ Elder Joseph said with a sad look on his old face.

“ We think what Leah said about herself as a bride but not a sacrificial is true. Let’s we all believe in Leah to change the demon beast mind. This is a risk we have to takes in order to appease the demon beast anger. “ Elder Stan said.

The head chief knew that there’s no point in arguing or give more excuses or a reason. What the elderly said is true and he knew it. He looked at his daughter face one last time and he made his decision. He decided to believe in her daughter. Leah were glad to see her father finally comes to the right decision. She knew her father very well and that’s what makes her so proud of him. She held her father both hand in her and smiled.  

“ Father, this time is really a goodbye. I am glad that I was born as your daughter. I hope in my next life, I will born again as your daughter. Thank you father for believing in me. “ Leah said with teary eyes.

“ Leah, you know that i, your mother and brothers love you so much more than you anything else, right? I am so sorry I can’t be the father who is strong enough to protect his own children. I has failed you. Eventhought I am a failure to you but I am proud of having a brave daughter like you. No matter what, you have to stay alive and live well until I can figured out on how to save you. Please forgive me, my child. “ The head chief said in teary eyes.

“ I know father…I know. I promise you to stay alive. And I love you all so much more than anything else too. I pray you, mother and my brothers to stay healthy and always remember me. Never forget me and thank you father…for letting me go. “ Leah replied and kissed her father on his cheek.

Her father gave her the last hugged and she finally broke into tear thinking that this is the her last moment to be with her father. They heard the demon beast roar, a signal that he cannot wait any longer. They all walk back towards the demon beast side. Then, Leah went to stand on the altar places at the corner of the mountain behind where the demon beast stand.

The head chief saw his daughter walks towards the ritual altar and his heart sank. He must be strong, although he has failed as her father but he cannot failed to fulfilled his daughter last wish that is to save her beloved village. He believed that he can save her daughter alive and back to her family again. He took a deep breath and walk straight toward the ritual pentagram. Standing face to face with the demon beast, he is making the right decision for what is the best for his people. There is no mercy showing on the demon beast part, a pact is a pact that must be keep in order to attain peace. Without delay, the head chief stood out proudly and said…

" I, as the head chief village of Moonlight Heaven with this in exchange for the peace in my village, I swear to be loyal to you. To show you my sincerity, I gave you my daughter and every daughter among my bloodline that born in a dragon year as a sacrifice bride to you. With this promises, I’ve sealed our pacts with my own blood as promises meant to be kept. If I break my words, you can destroy the village that my family has been protecting since my ancestors time! " The head chief taken an oath to pledge the pact with slice his index finger. The blood gushed out fall on the ritual pentagram on the hard ground. Finally, the pacts has been sealed! 

The night sound of the raging wind and thunder give an eerie feeling to everyone present at the mountain. In order to appease the anger of the demon beast, they have to do a ritual whereas the sacrifice bride is necessary. His daughter!

She looked at her father with a smile on her face and whispered “Goodbye, father.”

In the blink of an eyes, he saw his daughter was swept away by the strong wind and disappeared into the darkness. He tried to look everywhere in the vast darkness to find any sign of her daughter but she was nowhere to be seen. He knew the demon beast has already taken her away! He closed his eyes and prayed to God to please protect his daughter away from harm until he can rescue her.

All the elderly’s stand behind the head chief. They know how is his feeling right now. He was sad. There’s no father would want to sent away their daughter to the demon beast. Unfortunately, Leah is one of a few girls in the village happen to born in the dragon year and at the maturity age of sixteen. The rest of the girl were just a little children. They knew Leah doesn’t want to see the children to be the sacrificial. That is why she’s volunteer to became the sacrifice bride. She really has a big heart and loved by the villager. The elderly were thinking of giving some comfort to the head chief. But they didn’t expected the head chief to spoke first.

" In order to seek for a peace, a pact has to be made. Once we make a pact, there's no breaking out from the promised. This is the only thing that i can do in order to prevent the worst disaster from happening in our village. If my own bloodline can appease the demon beast anger to avoid from the worst scenario happening again and so will I do anything to prevent it from happening. As we all know, we has already invoked the anger of the demon beast. We has tasted his wrath before. So what choice do I have? " He said sadly.

" Son, we are sorry it has to be this way to protect the village. Since there’s only a little choice we had since the demon beast destroyed half of our village and demanded to prepared a sacrifice bride for him. We know this is a hard decision for you to make, but at least don’t let Leah effort goes to nothing. You have to stay strong because you are the head chief of the moonlight raven. Please bear in your mind that every single things that happen always comes with a price to pay. This is what your ancestor has been thru before and much more worse than you ever know. We all pray that Leah will stay alive and we will figure out on how to break this curse of your bloodline. “ Elder Edward said while gripping on the head chief shoulder to comforted him.

The elderly know this is the only way to avoid the demon beast wrath  from destroying their village. They also felt guilty and sad for the lost of the head chief daughter, Leah. The villager’s didn’t know about what has happened tonight except for the head chief family and them, the five elderly. The need to keep it in secret as they don’t want the villager to live in fear. This is a very difficult choices to make but it has to be done. Their only hope after Leah sacrifice herself, the village will be in a peace again.

“ Come and let’s us all go home now. Everything is over for now. We hope the demon beast will keep to his words and protected us from any danger imposed to our village. “ Elder Stan said and started to leave.

The twin elderly stand side by side and pulled along the head chief hands. They knew the head chief is still in shock of losing his daughter. They all walking in silence without saying a words. They went down the mountain which is took about half and hour on foot and when they reach at the bottom end near the village entrance. Elder Joseph stopped everyone on their track, he turned around and look at everyone before he spoke.

“ What has happened tonight cannot be known by the villagers. This is the only secret that we will bring to our own graveyard. Nobody will speak of anything. About Leah, we will make up some stories to cover her missing. We will pronounce her as death while she’s swimming in the strong river at the bottom end of the town. Can I have your words of protected the secret? “ Elder Joseph said while waiting for everyone to agreed.

They all nodded agreed in unison except for the head chief who is still in shocked. The elderly know that the head chief will not leak any secret and a trustworthy person. They let him pass without waiting for his acceptance. They adjourned and went back to their own home. While walking alone back to his own home, the head chief trying to reminisce back the words his daughter has told him. He knew this is the most painful departed way with his daughter. He stopped on his track back home and went to hide under the tree. When he is so sure there is no one surrounding only then cried out his heart. He cannot let his family seen him crying and in a weak state. He need to stay strong and think of the way to save her daughter. He will do anything in his power to get his daughter back.